LocumLife - February 2009 - (Page 11)

Opening the door A growing number of physicians tap into locum tenens with permanent positions in mind Anne Baye Ericksen W ith the traditional physician job search process, administrators typically call in prospective candidates for oneon-one interviews during which patient demographics, practice expectations, and scheduling are explained. Questions are answered and preliminary impressions are formed. Based on that input, both parties are expected to decide whether that private practice, outpatient center, or acute care facility is the best professional fit for each. If you are lucky, that conventional arrangement suffices and you come out with a satisfying permanent situation. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Of course, the choice would be easier if you had the chance to experience the practice setting first-hand for a week or more before making a decision. This way, you could see for yourself whether your skills matched with the environment’s specific needs, and if you gelled with your potential colleagues. Enter locum tenens. For many physicians, at all stages of their careers, providing locum tenens services is opening the door to permanent opportunities at medical practices and hospitals across the country. REAL-TIME EVALUATIONS For years, locum tenens opportunities were viewed as a fill-in service for practitioners who required coverage while they vacationed or took extended medical, maternity, or educational leave. Additionally, the majority of individuals choosing this lifestyle were assumed to be those transitioning from long-held, full-time practices into retirement, but who were not completely ready to hang up their medical shingles just yet. In more recent times, though, the career alternative has morphed into three distinctive categories, including the above-mentioned segment. “Another group consists of physicians who like the freedom of flexible schedules because they do not wish to commit to a long-term position. They use locum tenens opportunities to earn an income while they pursue other aspects of their lives,” asserts Annette Knippenberg, CTS, CPC, permanent search department manager for Houston, Texasbased Whitaker Medical. “Sometimes, these individuals adopt the mobile FEBRUARY 2009 LocumLife 11

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of LocumLife - February 2009

LocumLife - February 2009 Editorial Insights Contents From Nalto Stat! Money Matters Resources Last-Minute Luxury Opening the Door Med Ec-cerpts Winning the Battle Career Center Advertisers' Index Opportunities Direct Residency Corner Destinations Contest Rules Anyone's Guess La Vita Locum

LocumLife - February 2009

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